Govven: Carl-Johan Utsi

Photo: Carl-Johan Utsi

Representatives and staff

Members of the Saami Council
Members of the Executive Board
Members of the Cultural Committee
Staff

Here you will find information about the Saami Council's members, staff and representatives.

Members of the Saami Council

  • Placeholder

    Ida-Maria Helander

    Vice President of the Saami Council,
    Representing Finnish Sámi Central Organization

  • Placeholder

    Niilá-Juhan Valkeapää

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing Finnish Sámi Central Organization

  • Niko Valkeapää

    Niko Valkeapää

    Member of the Saami Council

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing Finnish Sámi Central Organization

  • Aslak Holmberg

    Aslak Holmberg

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing Finnish Sámi Central Organization

  • Placeholder

    Sara Elvira Kuhmunen

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing Reindeer Herders association of Sweden

  • Margareta Påve

    Margareta Påve

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing Sáme Ätnam

  • Placeholder

    Anders Erling Fjällås

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing the Sámi Association in Sweden

  • Per Olof Nutti

    Per Olof Nutti

    President of the Saami Council,

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing the Sámi Association in Sweden

  • Christina Henriksen

    Christina Henriksen

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing the Norwegian Saami Association

  • Beaska Niillas

    Beaska Niillas

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing the Norwegian Saami Association

  • Placeholder

    Lajla Helene Eira

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing the Norwegian Reindeer Herders' Association

  • Ellen-Sara Sparrok

    Ellen-Sara Sparrok

    Vice President of the Saami Council,

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing the Norwegian Reindeer Herders' Association

  • Stein-Are Olsen

    Stein-Are Olsen

    Member of the Saami Council,
    Representing the Saami Peoples Union

Regular member Alternate member Organization
Áslat Holmberg Sunná Porsanger Central Saami Association (Finland)
Niko Mihkal Valkeapää Keijo Pirttijärvi Central Saami Association (Finland)
Ida-Maria Helander Jouni Esa Nousuniemi Central Saami Association (Finland)
Niilá-Juhan Valkeapää Jaakko Toikka Central Saami Association (Finland)
Sara Elvira Kuhmunen Marie Louise Svonni Allas Reindeer Herders Association of Sweden
Margareta Påve Joakim Påve National association Same Ätnam (Sweden)
Anders Erling Fjällås Nils Erik Poidnakk Sámi Association in Sweden
Per Olof Nutti Gudrun Kuhmunen Sámi Association in Sweden
Beaska Niillas Vidar Andersen Saami Association of Norway
Christina Henriksen Beatrice Fløystad Saami Association of Norway
Ellen-Sara Sparrok Lars Elias Bransfjell Reindeer Herders Association of Norway
Lajla Helene Eira Johan Dánel Turi Reindeer Herders Association of Norway
Stein Are Olsen Ingrid Fløistad Saami Peoples Union (Norway)
Vacant Vacant Saami Association of Murmansk Region (OOSMO)
Vacant Vacant Kola Saami Association

THE SAAMI COUNCIL

The Saami Council consists of 15 members and each member has a personal substitute. Each member represents a member organization. The Saami Council has 9 member organizations. Here you can find more information about the member organizations.

The 23rd Saami Conference notes that the circumstances that led to the suspension of cooperation with the member organisations on the Russian side remain unchanged, and that the suspension will therefore remain in place until the Saami Council decides otherwise. Due to the serious geopolitical situation in the region, two seats and two deputy seats on the Saami Council will remain vacant for the time being.

The 23rd Saami Conference requests the Saami Council to continuously assess whether the situation allows for the resumption of cooperation and authorises the Saami Council to appoint two members and two deputy members upon nomination by the member organisations on the Russian side when the necessary conditions are met.

Members of the Executive Board

  • Per-Olof Nutti

    Per-Olof Nutti

    PRESIDENT OF THE SAAMI COUNCIL,
    Representing the Sámi Association in Sweden

    Tel. +46 702 129 134
    E-mail: ponutti@saamicouncil.net

  • Ida-Maria Helander

    Ida-Maria Helander

    VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SAAMI COUNCIL,
    Representing Finnish Sámi Central Organization

    Tel. +358 40 247 3551
    E-mail: ida.maria.helander@saamicouncil.net

  • Ellen-Sara Sparrok

    Ellen-Sara Sparrok

    VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SAAMI COUNCIL,
    Representing the Norwegian Reindeer Herders' Association

    Tel. +47 905 27 908
    E-mail: es.sparrok@saamicouncil.net

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board has normally four members. Because of the current situation in Russia, there are no representatives from Russia in the Executive Board.

Members of the Cultural Committee

  • Lada Suomenrinne

    Lada Suomenrinne

    CHAIR OF THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE

  • Magnus Anttaris Tuolja

    Magnus Anttaris Tuolja

    MEMBER OF THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE

  • Arne Nerås Joma

    Arne Nerås Joma

    MEMBER OF THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE

  • Petra Laiti

    Petra Laiti

    MEMBER OF THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE

THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE

The Cultural committee consists of five members - one from each country in Sápmi and one representative of the Saami Council. Each member has an alternate. The Cultural Committee is elected for two years. This is the Cultural Comittee for 2025-2026. Lada Suomenrinne was elected as chair of the committee for the period 2025-2026. 

Regular member Alternate member
Lada Suomenrinne Áile Aikio
Magnus Anttaris Tuolja Sara-Helen Persson
Arne Nerås Joma Heaika Hætta
Petra Laiti Vidar Andersen

Staff

Árktalaš- ja birasossodat
Kulturossodat
EU-ossodat
Olmmošvuoigatvuođaossodat